Rabat, 20 October 2025 (SPS) – Moroccan human rights organizations have denounced the large-scale campaign of arrests targeting young protesters who took to the streets to demand their legitimate rights, revealing a blatant regression in respect for human rights.
The Moroccan Committee for the Support of Political Prisoners (HIMAM) stated that the arrest campaign launched by the Moroccan authorities has not spared minors, stressing that it comes within a broader context marked by the prioritization of a security-based approach over the rule of law. The committee expressed concern over "the alarming shrinking of spaces for free expression" in Morocco.
In a statement, the organization indicated that the number of people arrested in recent days has exceeded 600, including around a hundred children and minors — figures that do not include those detained by the police and later released.
HIMAM described these numbers as "terrifying," saying they "reflect the extent of the violations committed against the rights, freedom, and physical and moral integrity" of individuals.
It further warned that the situation is particularly dangerous because of the arrests of children and minors — "a clear violation of criminal procedures," it asserted.
For its part, the Moroccan Association for the Defense of Human Rights denounced, in a statement, “the ongoing repression” against young people who are peacefully demonstrating and defending legitimate demands. It also highlighted the “excessive” number of arrests, as well as the “numerous abuses and unjust verdicts against the accused, including minors.”
The association also condemned the baseless charges brought against many individuals “to justify the acts of violence they suffered,” in addition to the “climate of fear” established by the authorities.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Path Party strongly criticized the repression of protesters, the arrests, and the particularly harsh judicial decisions. It also denounced the use of live ammunition against demonstrators — actions it said reflect a state of deadlock directly linked to “the corruption and tyranny that characterize the Moroccan regime.”
